56th NAACP Image Awards: ‘The Six Triple Eight’ Wins Outstanding Motion Picture; Keke Palmer Named Entertainer of the Year

Tyler Perry’s The Six Triple Eight was named Outstanding Motion Picture at the 56th NAACP Image Awards tonight, with star Kerry Washington winning Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for the film.

The Netflix film, based on the book “Fighting a Two-Front War” by Kevin M. Hymelon, is the true story of an all-Black, all-female battalion in WWII, won awards earlier this week for ensemble, as well as breakthrough performance and supporting actress for Ebony Obsidian.

Nickel Boys earned directing honors for RaMell Ross and the writing win for Ross and Joslyn Barnes. Both are Oscar-nominated in adapted screenplay for the film.

Keke Palmer was named entertainer of the year. “I’ve been in this industry for 20 years, nobody has uplifted me more than you all, the people in this room,” she said in her acceptance speech. This was Palmer’s second NAACP award this week. In night one of the three-night show, she won Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) for Password.

This year’s honorees included former VP Kamala Harris, who received the Chairman’s Award; Dave Chappelle, who received the President’s Award; The Wayans Family, who were inducted into the NAACP Hall of Fame; and BET Media Group was the recipient of the Founders Award.

A special segment honored the historically Black community of Altadena, which was impacted by the Eaton wildfires. Actor Morris Chestnut highlighted the community’s resilience and led a standing ovation for the 22 Altadena residents featured in the tribute. A call to action encouraged donations to the Altadena Community Preservation Fund, which aims to provide financial assistance to homeowners and preserve the community’s cultural heritage. GRAMMY Award-winning artist Ledisi, accompanied by the Adam Blackstone Band, performed a powerful medley of “Wholy Holy” & “How I Got Over” with a choir of Altadena residents. 

After honoring those who have passed away with an in memoriam tribute, DJ D-Niceled a special tribute to the late music icon Quincy Jones with a special medley to highlight his enduring legacy and timeless hits. This year’s ceremony was hosted by actor and comedian Deon Cole.

Here is the complete list of winners.

MOTION PICTURE CATEGORIES

Entertainer of the Year
Keke Palmer

Outstanding Motion Picture
The Six Triple Eight (Netflix)

Outstanding Directing for a Motion Picture
RaMell Ross — Nickel Boys (Orion Pictures/Amazon MGM Studios)

Outstanding Writing for a Motion Picture
RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes — Nickel Boys (Orion Pictures/Amazon MGM Studios)

Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Kerry Washington — The Six Triple Eight (Netflix)

Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
Martin Lawrence — Bad Boys: Ride or Die (Sony Pictures)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Ebony Obsidian — The Six Triple Eight (Netflix)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Denzel Washington — Gladiator II (Paramount Pictures)

Outstanding Independent Motion Picture
Sing Sing (A24)

TELEVISION + STREAMING CATEGORIES

Outstanding Drama Series
Cross (Prime Video)

Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
Queen Latifah — The Equalizer (CBS)

Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
Michael Rainey Jr. — Power Book II: Ghost (Starz)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Cliff “Method Man” Smith — Power Book II: Ghost (Starz)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Lynn Whitfield — The Chi (Showtime)

Outstanding Comedy Series
Abbott Elementary (ABC)

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
Quinta Brunson — Abbott Elementary (ABC)

Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series
Damon Wayans — Poppa’s House (CBS)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Damon Wayans Jr. — Poppa’s House (CBS)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Danielle Pinnock — Ghosts (CBS)

RECORDING CATEGORIES

Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album
“Not Like Us” — Kendrick Lamar (pgLang, under exclusive license to Interscope Records)

Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album
Wicked: The Soundtrack (Republic Records)

Outstanding Soul/R&B Song
“Residuals” — Chris Brown (RCA Records/Chris Brown Entertainment)

• Author
• Recent Posts

Erik Anderson

Erik Anderson is the founder/owner and Editor-in-Chief of AwardsWatch and has always loved all things Oscar, having watched the Academy Awards since he was in single digits; making lists, rankings and predictions throughout the show. This led him down the path to obsessing about awards. Much later, he found himself in film school and the film forums of GoldDerby, and then migrated over to the former Oscarwatch (now AwardsDaily), before breaking off to create AwardsWatch in 2013.

He is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, accredited by the Cannes Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and more, is a member of the International Cinephile Society (ICS), The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics (GALECA), Critics Choice Association (CCA), San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle (SFBAFCC) and the International Press Academy. Among his many achieved goals with AwardsWatch, he has given a platform to underrepresented writers and critics and supplied them with access to film festivals and the industry and calls the Bay Area his home where he lives with his husband and son.

Latest posts by Erik Anderson (see all)

• Trailer Watch: ‘One Battle After Another,’ ‘Final Destination: Bloodlines,’ ‘Drop,’ ‘Ballerina,’ ‘A Nice Indian Boy,’ ‘G20’ - March 28, 2025
• Interviews: Nathan Lane and Matt Bomer On Their New Gay Comedy Series ‘Mid-Century Modern’ [VIDEO] - March 28, 2025
• 2026 Palm Springs International Film Awards and Festival Dates Announced - March 28, 2025